US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2916

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002916 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
WHA ALSO FOR USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, HA 
SUBJECT: HAITI: NOVEMBER 22 NEPTUNE/JEAN-JUSTE VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY M. CARNEY, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) Poloff visited former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune at 
the Pacot Prison Annex on November 22.  Despite his continued 
hunger strike, now approaching day 200, Neptune appeared 
stronger than he did on the last visit of October 27. 
Neptune reported that his personal physician had not seen him 
in about one month but that he had no pressing health 
concerns and would await her next visit.  Poloff conveyed 
Mrs. Neptune's continued concern for her husband's health. 
Neptune asked poloff to relay his message to his wife to "do 
what she has to do" (meaning to do what needs to be done to 
have him released).  Neptune also reminded poloff to forward 
the cause for his release, although he lamented that it 
probably wouldn't occur under this government nor before the 
transition. 
 
2. (C) Neptune also commented on his new neighbors at the 
annex, former Western Departmental Director Carlo Lochard and 
former Director of the Administrative Police Renand Etienne, 
who were imprisoned for their alleged role in the August 20 
soccer match police operation which resulted in at least six 
deaths.  Neptune remarked on the irony of Etienne's 
imprisonment at the Annex next to him.  He also noted that 
when he turned himself over to the police in 2004, Etienne 
was the only officer who accompanied former police Director 
General Leon Charles to take him into custody.  Neptune said 
that he resents the proximity of Lochard and Etienne in the 
bedroom right next to his and expressed his general lack of 
trust for members of the police force in Haiti. 
 
Jean-Juste 
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3. (C) Father Jean-Juste appeared in good health but the 
mysterious swelling of his neck persisted (he insists is a 
result of a "beating" he received in the events surrounding 
his July arrest).  On October 20, partisans of Father 
Jean-Juste from Pax Christi USA contacted poloff and 
expressed concern over his health.  Poloff intervened and 
asked the Prisons Director to coordinate blood tests and 
x-rays by the chief prison physician.  Neither the blood 
screenings nor the x-rays netted worrisome results, but the 
physician's report recommended that Jean-Juste have more 
extensive tests conducted, including a possible 
hospitalization for a biopsy of the abscess.  Jean-Juste 
didn't complain of any discomfort, but expressed his desire 
to have an accurate diagnosis for the condition of his neck. 
 
4. (C) Concerning his legal case, Jean-Juste said that Judge 
Peres Paul rejected his lawyer's writ of habeas corpus in 
October.  The judge has also requested a 30-day extension 
from the State Prosecutor to continue his investigation.  In 
accordance with Haitian law, the Prosecutor granted the 
extension and the investigation will likely continue until 
mid-December.  Jean-Juste speculated that the extension was 
just a ploy to invent evidence because he doesn't believe 
that the prosecutor has enough information to mount a strong 
case against him.  Meanwhile, he is awaiting a decision on 
his appeal to Pope Benedict XVI on his suspension by the 
Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince.  He expected that the Papal 
Nuncio would bring him an update this week from his recent 
trip to the Vatican. 
5. (C) Comment: Despite the lull in media coverage on Neptune 
and Jean-Juste, Post will continue our regular visits and 
update accordingly any movement in their respective cases. 
End Comment. 
CARNEY